Driving-bit.



No. 780,058. PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905.

. P. A. MURDOUEL,

DRIVING BIT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 19M.

EV ,ZZur/wi Patented. January 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PEARL A. MURDOCK, OF LAURA, ILLINOIS.

DHlVIlNG BlT...

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,053, dated January 17, 1905.

Application filed May 16, 1904. Serial No. 203,298.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PEARTi A. MUnnooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Laura, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving-Bits; and il do hereby declare that the following a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and improved bit for use in training and driving unmanageable horses.

The objectof the present invention is to provide a bit that will clamp the horses mouth whenever the reins are tightly drawn, so that he will be forced to stop.

Another object is to combine an ordinary bit with a combination of parts useful in handling fractious animals.

A still further object is to provide a bit that can be quickly changed from a common bit to one suitable in handling horses needing a more rigid means for subjecting them.

In the appended drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved bit. Fig. 2 is a side view of the bit as placed in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a ball, showing loose connection of the two portions of the bit therewith. Fig. 4- is a front view of the device, showing two positions thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pivotal link, showing certain connections therewith. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a plate in an inverted position.

The mouthpiece or bit proper comprises two straight members A A, connected to a ball B by rings or loops U C, as shown in Fig. 3. The outer extremities of the said membersAA are each provided with a loop D, inclosing a short member E, perpendicular to such members. Each end of the short member E is provided with a loop F. A substantially oval link (:r is held by these said loops F, as shown in the several figures, said link lying in line with the moutlropening. A rod H is connected to the forward end of the link, as illustrated, the opposite end of such rod having an eye or loop through which passes a member l, as in Fig. 4c. The adjacent ends of the two are loosely linked to a lug J on the under side of a plate K. A strap L connects each of the rods H with the plate, as shown in Fig. 4, the straps being held in slots M in said plate, as in Fig. 6. The outer free ends of the members I are provided with rings or loops N, to which the driving-reins are attached, and a nose-strap O is loosely attached to the mouthpiece A A by means of rings P.

In placing the device in position the mouthpiece A A is entered into the month, while the strap 0 is passed over the nose to occupythe position about as shown, while the links (-i are placed so that a pull on the rods H will swing said links and the member E to bring the free end of the loop against the month. In pulling the reins, which, as before stated, are attached to the links or loops N, the mem bers L use the loops of the rods H as fulcrums, thus causing the said members to rise to elevate the plateK, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 4:, said plate occupying a position under the horses chin. Pressure is brought to bear, therefore, upon the horses chin and against the sides of his mouth, and in addition to this the members of the mouthpiece A A are raised to bring the ball B against the roof of the mouth, the movement being as shown in Fig. 4; in broken lines. It will be seen that four different movements are made by the four elements of the bit, so that the animal, no matter how wild, is forced to do the will of the driver. Only in the form described is the bit used when unmanageable horses are handled until trained to understand what is required of them, after which the lines or reins are attached to the links 6', as shown in Fig. 5, the rods H and members L being removed, if desired. In this use a common form of bit is constituted. If it is the desire to make a slightly-harder bit for a horse likely to be a little uneasy, as a green horse in the city, the lines may be attached to the links G at the forward end after removal of the rods 11, as in broken lines in Fig. 5. This will give the side pressure on the mouth and the upward pressure of the ball B against the roof of the mouth. Thus it will be seen that any one of the three ways may be used.

Changes may be made in my improved bit Without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention.

The straps L are designed to keep the jointed members I in proper relation with the arms H; but of course other means may be used for accomplishing this. The plate K is employed to give a larger surface to rest against the chinbone without injuring it. The usual straps of the bridle are connected with the rings P; but the same have not been shown, as they form no part of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a driving-bit for horses, a mouthpiece of two portions, a link loosely carried by each outer end of said mouthpiece at right angles thereto, said links being carried at their middles and adapted to pivot on the said mouthpiece substantially as described and shown, a strap loosely attached to the bit or mouthpiece at each end and passing over the nose of the horse, a two-piece member parallel with the mouthpiece beneath the horses chin, a member attached to the forward end of each of the links and also to the two-piece mem her, the driving-reins being attached to the outer ends of the latter, a pull thereon adapted to raise the two-piece member against the chin, force the links against the sides of the mouth and raise the mouthpiece against the roof of the mouth.

2. In a driving-bit for horses, a mouthpiece consisting of two members loosely connected within the horses mouth, a link pivoted at its middle to each outer end of the mouthpiece, a strap connected at each end with an outer end of the said mouthpiece in a loose manner, a two-piece member beneath the horses chin and joined together thereunder, connections between the forward ends of the links and the outer extremities of the said two-piece member, and a plate carried at the joint of the latter for the purposes set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, a mouthpiece consisting of two members linked together within the horses mouth, a link at each end, a cross-arm extending across the middle of each link as shown to which the said linked members are loosely attached, a twopiece member beneath the horses chin for hearing upward thereagainst, a member loosely attached to the forward extremity of each link and extending downward and rearward and having the chin members held loosely thereon, the lines having attachment with the outer ends of the chin members, and a strap loosely held on the mouthpiece and passing over the horses nose all as set forth and described, and for the purposes explained.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PEARL A. MURDOCK. l/Vitnesses:

CHAS. DOUBET, J. A. ELLIOTT. 

